Political science

U.S. decontrols computer exports, raising new proliferation concerns

Article Abstract:

Decontrolling the export of supercomputers by the US will lead to the proliferation of sophisticated conventional weapons of mass destruction. Despite dividing the potential exporting countries into four categories based on potential proliferation threats, there are no laws to check their re-export to third parties. The dismantling of the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls has further heightened the fear of arms proliferation. The US government justifies the decision by citing rapid advancements in computer technology as the reason.

The US, Britain and France have decided to sign the three protocols to the Treaty of Rarotanga that created the South Pacific nuclear-free zone treaty in 1996. The treaty, which came into force on Dec 11, 1986, bans the manufacture, acquisition, testing and stationing of any nuclear device and the dumping of radioactive waste in the zone. Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Western Samoa are some of the countries, who are party to the treaty.